☽ - a memory of their father
The cold air bites at Riddle’s nose making it scrunch up in a sneeze. It’s not everyday that he gets to go outside, much less during a festivity. He’s not sure why his parents decided to bring him to the plaza, something about a Halloween celebration and how Riddle should avoid any offer of candy at any cost. Other than that though, he was left to fend for himself.
He could tell they were the odd one’s out. It wasn’t by any lingering stares or by the gasps of ‘Rosehearts’ coming from, what he assumes to be, previous patients. The thing that made them stand out so much was how apart they were from each other. It’s a cold night, the families were either arm in arms or their children grasping to one of their hands, pulling them along to whatever picked their interest. Riddle could never do that.
Staring at the gloved hand of his father, he tentatively tries to reach for it as it’s smoothly pulled away from him.
“You should try to meddle with the others.”
Riddle’s used to being dismissed, especially when it comes to whatever higher family his parents are trying to play a good impression on. Children are a nuisance and he unfortunately is still one, in future it’ll change. For now, he has to find a way to pass his time that won’t anger his mother too much. Most of the attractions have sweets as some sort of prize and he’s absolutely forbidden from them. All that’s left, is a game of Apple Bobbing.
He had been confident at first. Catching an apple with a single bite should be an easy feat, there’s hardly any mastery to it. How wrong had he been. Shudders run through his body as he dives face deep in the cold water, no matter how much he tried the apple’s just seemed to slip away. By the time his turn was up, all that he had to show were wet clothes and stuttering teeth. But there was laughter around him, and cheers even if he failed.
What surprised him the most was the amused smile his father beamed at him, even when he failed to return it.